Huskies expect big things from senior wideout wideout

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, April 1, 2008

When Lorenzen began his college career, it was as a walk-on at Iowa State. Because of that, Lorenzen knows what teammate Marcus Easley has gone through.

Easley, a product of Bunnell High in Stratford, is a rising senior wide receiver with the Huskies and a walk-on. He has worked his way from unknown body to practice player to small-time contributor and, now perhaps, to key performer.

"He's a great player. He's going to keep getting better and better," Lorenzen said Tuesday. "He knows I expect a lot out of him. I told him from Day 1, 'You're a player. I want to see you on the field.' He got on the field and now he has a chance to really make a name for himself."

The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Easley played in 10 games last season for the Huskies as a reserve wideout and on special teams. He made one catch.

Easley may not be a superstar, but this spring he's one of UConn's most experienced pass catchers. With D.J. Hernandez, Brad Kanuch and Ellis Gaulden all on the shelf with injuries, Easley has been given a chance to shine.

After a winter of extra work in the weight room, he's working with the first team and could make a significant impact in his final season in Storrs.

With their expected starters on the sidelines, the Huskies are using Easley, talented redshirt freshman Kashif Moore and Rob Theodele, a senior who began his UConn career as a linebacker, as their primary targets during the 15 spring practices.

Following UConn's Meineke Car Care Bowl loss to Wake Forest, the coaches challenged Easley to maximize his physical abilities before the spring. Easley appears to have done so, and says he's trying to give his best on every play.

"I definitely became more focused because I knew there would be an opportunity for me in the spring," Easley said. "They told me what I needed to work on and I just tried to make my weaknesses into strengths."

He's always had the size to be effective as a Division I-A wide receiver, and Easley has never been called slow. But by increasing his foot speed slightly in recent years, Easley has given himself a chance to play more on Saturdays.

"I've never been slow but just not fast enough," Easley said. "And you can always get faster. It's tough to do, but you can always get a step quicker."

Hernandez and Kanuch will in all likelihood be near full strength in August. And the Huskies have experimented with cornerback Darius Butler as a wide receiver this spring, too.

There is a chance for Easley, however, to reserve a prime role.

"We have tight ends lining up at wide receiver, running backs lining up at wide receiver, fullbacks lining up at wide receiver," Lorenzen said. "Basically it's wide receiver by committee, and then there's Darius. But people are making plays and they're getting better."

Says Easley: "I'm just trying to take advantage of this opportunity and get a jump ahead of everybody else."

LaMagdelaine did have ice on his left shoulder late in the day and could be injured. ... Linebacker Scott Lutrus and tight end Martin Bedard were not at practice. Both were sick, according to a UConn spokesman. ... Tight end Steve Brouse did not compete in any contact drills and was walking with a slight limp. ... Cornerback Jasper Howard practiced with the first team defense Tuesday in place of Robert McClain.